Saleh Out of Yemen for Surgery; Yemenis Cheer His Leave

Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh's exit to Saudi Arabia for surgery does not necessarily denote his stepping down from office, but defiant Yemenis on Sunday cheered in hope that this departure, to their neighboring country, could signify the initial step to end his 33-year rule.

President Saleh was injured this week and rushed to the hospital after a rocket attack hit his presidential compound leaving 7 people dead. According to Reuters, medical sources in Saudi Arabia told the news outlet that Saleh was benefitting from good health after having shrapnel removed from his chest.

The Yemeni governmental party in control announced that Saleh would return to Yemen after restoring his health but with a highly volatile political arena in Yemen with worries that the military power might stage a coup, there are speculations that Saleh may not be able to retain power once back or that his return may fuel an already highly tensed power struggle

Nonetheless, thousands of demonstrators still gathered in the nation's capital, Sanaa, to dance and cheerfully celebrate as if Saleh had stepped down from office.

Yemen under Saleh has been a key U.S. ally to ward off the terrorist group al Qaeda harbored in the country and in the Arabian peninsula, but with the growing uncertainty over Saleh staying in power, the U.S. may have to strategize to deal with what many are now considering the beginning of a Post-Saleh era.